Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Kobolds!

Yesterday, I posted about alternate takes on traditional Dungeons & Dragons monstrous humanoids and noted that I'd be presenting some of my own in the future. As it turns out, I'd already taken steps in this direction, but the name I chose for the creature didn't connect it to an existing D&D one. At some point, I was reminded of the description of kobolds in Holmes's Basic Set, where he describes them as "evil dwarf-like creatures." That flipped a switch in my head and, from that point on, I ceased to call these aberrant, insane dwarves knockers and instead opted for kobold.

A kobold by Jason Sholtis
The description in the linked post is still accurate. For game statistics, I would, however, suggest using those of "standard" kobolds in whatever version of the game you're playing. My preference these days is Old School Essentials, but, since it's nearly identical with every other edition derived from OD&D, there's no need that you should do the same. In the coming weeks, I'll make additional posts on this topic, with the eye of using them as a way to demonstrate the ease with which a distinct fantasy setting can be fleshed out via small tweaks to the game.

7 comments:

  1. What's wrong with using the already-existing derro for the "aberrant insane Dwarf" role? They've got a lengthy history in D&D and beyond, and there have been several quite good takes on them over the years.

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    1. Nothing at all! In my specific case, I reserve the derro for another, non-dwarfish purpose that's a little closer to their literary origins.

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  2. Interestingly, most of my d100 OSE Kobold Encounter Activities would still probably work with this version!

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  3. I don’t really like the dragon related thing kobolds have become. Unfortunately these days I’m running for fifth edition enthusiasts, and though I slip in a lot of old school mentality I’ve been sticking to current depictions for standard humanoids.

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    1. I am not fond of the draconic kobolds either. I believe it first appeared in 3e, though even 1e/2e cowards had a scaly quality to them that I believe served as the basis for the later interpretation of them.

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  4. I'm thinking seriously on just calling hobbits "kobolds". In my setting, hobbits are peasant serfs of a "tall people" ruling caste, so it makes sense with the folk myths of the kobolds as workers, making the household chores when treated good, and sometimes mischief makers.

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  5. I want ‘dogmen’ kobold and I don’t want gnolls so I’m thinking of making them both aberrants of werewolves...

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